In Photos: The Luminaries of the New York Jazz Scene

‘I have no idea how they decided to stand where they did, and with whom, but they did. Slowly they formed themselves into a big group … and I saw they couldn’t have got themselves into a better position’ – Art Kane

Photograph: Art Kane

Count Basie’s hat was repeatedly stolen by local kids until Kane surrendered and put them in the shot too. ‘ So here you have a non-professional photographer, who’s got an assistant who’s never loaded a camera before, taking this picture which 30 years later is probably the best-known group photograph ever taken if jazz musicians’ – Art Kane

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